Training Raramuri Criollo cattle to virtual fencing in chaparral rangeland

Authors: CAMPA-MADRID, SARA - New Mexico State University; PEREA, ANDRÉS - New Mexico State University; FUNK, MICAH - New Mexico State University; SPETTER, MAXIMILLIANO - New Mexico State University; BAKIR, MEHMET - New Mexico State University; WALKER, JEREMY - Consultant; Estell, Richard; SOTO-NAVARRO, SERGIO - New Mexico State University; Spiegal, Sheri; Bestelmeyer, Brandon; UTSUMI, SANTIAGO - New Mexico State University

Submitted to: Animals
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/22/2025
Publication Date: 7/24/2025
Citation: Campa-Madrid, S.E., Perea, A.R., Funk, M., Spetter, M.J., Bakir, M., Walker, J., Estell, R.E., Soto-Navarro, S.A., Spiegal, S.A., Bestelmeyer, B.T., Utsumi, S.A. 2025. Training Raramuri Criollo cattle to virtual fencing in chaparral rangeland. Animals. 15(15):2178. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152178.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152178

Interpretive Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of virtual fencing to manage Rarámuri Criollo cattle on Chaparral rangeland. Cows exhibited different learning responses to virtual fencing, with some individuals interacting more actively with the fence and learning more quickly than others. Despite these differences, cows in the two response groups both exhibited successful containment rapidly with minimal audio warnings or pulse reinforcements under field conditions. Rarámuri Criollo cattle can effectively adapt to virtual fencing technology, achieving over 99% containment rate while displaying typical diurnal patterns for grazing, resting, and traveling behavior. This research highlights the promising potential and flexibility of virtual fencing for extensive beef production.

Technical Abstract: Virtual fencing (VF) offers a promising alternative to conventional or electrified fences for managing livestock grazing distribution. This study evaluated the behavioral responses of 25 Rarámuri Criollo cows fitted with Nofence® collars in Pine Valley, CA, USA. The VF system was deployed in chaparral rangeland pastures. The study included a 14-day training phase followed by an 18-day testing phase. The collar-recorded variables, including audio warnings and electric pulses, animal movement, and daily typical behavior patterns of cows classified into a High or Low virtual fence response group, were compared using repeated-measure analyses with mixed models. During training, High-response cows (i.e., resistant responders) received more audio warnings and electric pulses, while Low-response cows (i.e., active responders) had fewer audio warnings and electric pulses, explored smaller areas, and exhibited lower mobility. Despite these differences, both groups showed a time-dependent decrease in the pulse-to-warning ratio, indicating increased reliance on audio cues and reduced need for electrical stimulation to achieve similar containment rates. In the testing phase, both groups maintained high containment with minimal reinforcement. The study found that Rarámuri Criollo cows can effectively adapt to virtual fencing technology, achieving over 99% containment rate while displaying typical diurnal patterns for grazing, resting, or traveling behavior. These findings support the technical feasibility of using virtual fencing in chaparral rangelands and underscore the importance of accounting for individual behavioral variability in behavior-based containment systems.